Experience the World of Pearls Like Never Before
At the Pearl Association of America, we believe the most powerful way to foster appreciation and understanding of pearls is through immersive, hands-on experiences.
Immersive Experiences Pearl Tours will consist of a curated trips for small groups of retailers, designers, influencers, and passionate collectors, to some of the world’s most significant pearl-producing regions—Japan, French Polynesia, China, Bahrain, and Mexico—offering in-depth insight into how pearls are cultivated, harvested, sorted, and brought to market.
Participants will meet cultured pearl farmers, divers, and technicians, gaining a deeper understanding of the craftsmanship and culture surrounding pearl production. They will also attend pearl industry trade events to experience, firsthand, the journey of the pearl from farm to market.
Our Immersive Experiences program will, therefore, allow professionals and consumers alike to appreciate pearls not only as luxury goods, but as cultural and natural treasures.
Schedule of Events:
- June 2025 – Japan Pearl Farm Tour
- November 2025 – Japan Pearl Farm Tour
Japan Pearl Tours 2025
The Pearl Association of America finished two very successful tours of Japan in 2025.
The June tour kicked off at the start of the summer and took a group of Key Opinion Leaders on an immersive visit to Japan’s pearl farms in Mie Prefecture. The farms were largely family-run operations that have specialized in producing fine akoya pearls over many generations. These visits allowed participants to observe cultivation practices during one of the most active seasons in the pearl farming calendar.
The June tour concluded at the 6th Japan Pearl Fair in Kobe, where participants met with a wide range of Japanese saltwater pearl dealers and wholesalers.
In November, the second iteration of the Japan tour offered a new group of Key Opinion Leaders the opportunity to explore Japanese akoya pearl farms in Nagasaki Prefecture. These were larger-scale farms with annual harvests exceeding 500,000 cultured akoya pearls.
Participants visited the Kitamura Pearl Farm on Tsushima Island, renowned for its distinctive Tsushima Blue akoya pearls. Because the November tour took place closer to harvest season, participants were given the rare opportunity to harvest their own cultured akoya pearls at the Sasebo Pearl Farm.
The group also met with Mr. Oishi, Governor of Nagasaki Prefecture, at the Fukae Pearl Farm, a producer that has received numerous awards for pearl quality. In addition, participants visited Mikimoto Pearl Island, where the museum documents the history and development of cultured pearls in detail.
The November tour concluded at the 7th Japan Pearl Fair in Kobe, where experts from around the world gathered to discuss trends, quality standards, and innovation within the pearl industry.
While both tours shared the same destination, seasonal differences and related industry events made each experience distinct. Together, they gave participants a deeper appreciation for the beauty of pearls and the dedication required to bring these remarkable gems to market.
